Designation strip



DESIGNATION 37 TOE/V5 ova Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE HENRY W. ONEILL, OF ELMHUIRST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO BELLTELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK DESIGNATION STRIP Application filed November 19, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in telephone switchboardaccessories and more particularly to what are known as combineddesignation and signal display strips which may be superposed over a rowof signal lamps.

In toll switchboards, where the outgoing line jacks appear at aplurality of operators positions, it has been proposed to associate witheach appearance a busy lamp so con nected that whenever a line is takenfor use at one position all the associated lamps at the otherappearances of the line will be lighted and remain lighted as long asthe line is engaged.

In the case of a two-way line one appearance would also have a line lampin addition to the busy lamp. Under these conditions it is desirablethat there be as little confusion as possible between the busy lamps, anumber of which are likely to be lighted for rather long periods, andthe line lamps which act as call signals and demand the prompt attentionof the operator.

An object of the invention therefore is to so distinguish the busy lampsthat they will not divert the operators attention from the line or callsignal lamps.

Another object of the invention is to permit economies in currentconsumption by such busy lamps without lessening the effectivevisibility of the signals.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, a feature of the inventionresides in providing a designation strip which may be placed over a rowof busy lamps which designation strip comprises an opaque mask havingopenings therein registering with but smaller than the openings in thelamp mounting, and a light diffusing material placed over said openings,whereby a spot of diffused light is made to show on the designationstrip itself and the glaring of direct light rays is avoided.

A further feature of the invention, whereby the second object is in partattained, resides in providing a light reflecting surface on the innerwalls of the individual lamp sockets or mountings, whereby satisfactorySerial No. 320,383.

illumination is secured from lower wattage i lamps than would beotherwise possible.

The invention will be understood from the following description whenread in con- JUIICtiOIl with the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 pf whichis a perspective view of a lamp signal strip to which a designationstrip in accordance with the present invent on has been applied, Fig. 2is a perspective V ew of the designation strip of the invention withwhich has been combined an intermediate strip of transparent coloredmaterlal, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken atright angles to the designation strip of Fig. 1. i

Referring to the drawings 1 is a mountin strip made in the state ofmaterial for 28 slgnal lamps 2 which are held in position in thecircular openings 3 in the well known manner by springs 4 whichterminate in lu -s 5 to wh1ch the conductors may be attached.

The designation strip of the present invention comprises a strip 6 oftranslucent material such as cloudy or opalescent cellu- 101d on theback of which is glued or otherwise fastened a strip 7 of opaquematerial such as black paper or the like in which are cut suitablespaced small openings 8 which are the same distance from center tocenter as the lamp openings 3 in the mountmg strip 1.

Suitable inscriptions may be printed or lettered 011 the face of thecelluloid strip 6 to indicate the character of the lines with whichthesignal lamps are associated.

The designation strip thus prepared may he slipped 111 a metal holder 9mounted in a suitable manner on the face of the mount- 111g strip 1,asfor example by means of a rear plate l0 and split thimbles 11 whichfit tightly into certain of the openings 3 1n the mounting 1. Circularopenings of substantially the same diameter as the lamp openings 3 andwhich align therewith are provlded in the holder 9. I lVhen thedesignation strip is in place in the holder of the openings 8 intheopaque strlp 7 are 1n substantial alignment with the centers of thelamp openings 3.

It Wlll be observed that due to the opaque character of strip 7 lightemitted from any of the lamps 2 would only pass through thecorresponding openings 8 and due to the translucent character of thecelluloid facing strip 6 the light from any lamp will appear on the faceof the switchboard as a diffused spot of li 'ht which may be readilyseen by the operator and dii'l'erentiated at a glance from the largerand more brilliantly illuminated line signals commonly used.

It may be desired to further differentiate between different strips ofbusy signals and therefore a modification of the invention consists ininter iiosing a thin strip of transparent colored material, such ascelluloid, between the opaque strip 7 andthe facing strip 6. By usingdesignation strips having different colored inner strips differentclasses of line groups may be indicated.

A further modification of? the invention consists in coating the innerwall of the lamp openings 3, and if desired the inner wall of thethimbles 11, with some white substance such as paint or enamel therebyreflecting a considerable portion of the light emitted by the lamp thatmight otherwise be absorbed by the black surface of the material formingthe mounting strip 1. By this expedient suitable illumination of thetranslucent spots 011 the face of? the designation strip is secured fromlamps of considerably lower wattage than would be otherwise possible.

Although black paper and translucent celluloid have been described asthe materials from which the designation strips according to the presentinvention are formed, it should be understood that similar results maybe secured by the combination of other materials, such as opaque paperand tracing cloth, etc., without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

l. A designation strip comprising a base of opaque flexible materialhaving a spaced plurality of small apertures cut therein and a lighttransmitting and diffusing surfacing material applied over the entirefront thereof.

2. A designation strip comprising a base of opaque material having aspaced plurality of small apertures cut therein, a light diffusingsurfacing material applied thereto and a sheet of transparent coloringmaterial placed between said opaque material and said surfacingmaterial.

3. A composite designation strip comprising a relatively long strip oftranslucent material and an opaque backing strip secured to the firstmentioned strip and substantially coterminous therewith, said backingstrip having a plurality of small apertures formed therethrough andarranged along the axis of the designation strip.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, this 16th day ofNovember. 1928.

HENRY WV. ONEILL.

